After an especially difficult day with my stepchild, God gave me the following vision. It alone has done more to change the way I look at my relationship with God (and family) than any other experience I can remember. It happened in the middle of the night and I was compelled to get up and write it down. I still remember every word and every thought, and always will.  

Setting of the stage:

On one side of the stage stand my husband, his son, his son’s four half-sisters, and I. On the other side stand God and all His children - both those who know Him and those who don’t. The same thoughts are expressed by me about my husband, his son & step-children and by God in regards to the people of the earth.  

We are both telling the same story...

MAN:  My husband’s first wife died of cancer before we married.  It was not a happy marriage and my stepson was not close to his father.  The half-sisters don’t like my husband and don’t hesitate to express this fact.  At times my husband doesn’t like the actions of his son or stepchildren but genuinely cares for all of them even the ones that aren’t his. They don’t see this love.

GOD:  I have many children.  Some are “mine” and some are not.  I love them all.

MAN:  Our son has been through too many things.  He is bruised and filled with hate, fear, and confusion.  He believes so many lies and untruths.

GOD:  My children live in the world.  I’ve had to let them go and live their lives.  The world hurts them.  The world fills them with lies and untruths.

MAN:  We want to show our son we love him.  We’ve tried everything.  We’ve talked to him.  We’ve given him a home, food, clothes - taken him places.  We’ve done our best to show him we love him.  He just doesn’t seem to see it.

GOD:  I love my children.  I’ve tried everything I know to show my love.  I’ve talked to them so many times and in so many ways.  I’ve poured out my blessings. Yet they are not moved.

MAN:  We continue to try. We praise him when he does something well and we correct him when he’s doing something that will harm himself or others.  We try our best to be consistent.  We continue to show him we love him.

GOD:   I remain faithful.  I see your successes and am filled with joy - I pour out My blessings.  I see your sin - things that will harm you - I continue to teach.  I am the same today as yesterday.  My love for you is eternal.

MAN:   One day we have a breakthrough.  We share a special moment.  He’s actually opening up to us.  We’re finally getting to know each other.  It’s so much fun to laugh and play together.  I think he finally knows we love him.  We’ve waited so long for this - it’s hard to express how happy we are.

GOD:   One day they see my love for them.  We fellowship.  They see my heart and my love and I see theirs.  We laugh, we play.  I pour out my blessings on them.  We rejoice.

MAN:   Immediately he wants more.  We say you’ve been given so much.  You can have more but you’ll have to wait a while.  You can have more later, but it’s not time for more yet, you’ll have to wait.

GOD:   They are not satisfied.  They have been given so much yet want more.  It is not time.  You must wait on the Lord.  You can have all and in abundance, but it is not yet time.  You will have to wait.

MAN:   He turns.  The moment of joy and closeness is gone.  He yells in our face, “I hate you”.  We’re wounded and try to talk to him.  He continues in his rebellion.  We’re angry but we still love him.  We want the closeness to return.

GOD:   They cry out against Me.  Fellowship is broken.  They curse me to my face.  My heart grieves.  I remain faithful.  I talk to them.  They continue in their rebellion.  I grow angry but My love remains.  I yearn for fellowship to be restored.